Evgeny Kuznetzov eyeing NHL return, and one Canadian team is the favourite: report
It’s been over a year since Evgeny Kuznetsov last played an NHL game.
However, the 33-year-old is reportedly getting closer to a return.
According to a report from RG Media, multiple teams are still interested in signing the former Stanley Cup champion.
The two teams on the top of that list right now? That would be the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers.
“Evgeny wants to play in the NHL,” a source close to the situation told RG Media. “Right now, he’s waiting on Toronto’s decision, though Florida is also an option.”
Kuznetsov was a beast for Washington in the 2018 NHL playoffs. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images)
The Maple Leafs currently have just $1.14 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. However, there are players on the roster that they could look to trade if they want to clear cap space.
Centre David Kämpf was a regular press box participant for the Leafs in 2024-25. Despite being healthy in the playoffs, the 30-year-old played in just one of Toronto’s 13 postseason contests.
Kämpf admitted that he expected to get traded during the offseason, but he currently remains with the Leafs. The eight-year NHL veteran has two years left on his contract, which pays him $2.4 million per season.
Calle Järnkrok is another potential trade candidate. Despite being a regular penalty killer for the Leafs since joining the team, neither he nor Kämpf were among the eight penalty killing forwards during training camp practices.
Järnkrok has one year left on his deal, worth $2.1 million.
The report suggests that the Leafs could be competing with their Atlantic Division rival for Kuznetsov’s services. With Aleksander Barkov expected to miss the season due to a torn ACL, the Florida Panthers are showing interest in signing Kuznetsov.
RG Media reported earlier in the summer that at least 10 NHL teams had shown interest in the NHL veteran.
I’ve always said that the NHL is where he belongs,” Kuznetsov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, told RG Media back in June.
“He’s had time away from the NHL and now clearly sees the difference in the level of hockey,” Babanev said. “It’ll be easier for him to perform in a league where he spent so many years.”
Kuznetsov posted 37 points in 39 KHL games last season, and his 0.95 points-per-game mark was sixth-best in the league.
He spent the offseason training with other notable players such as Kirill Kaprizov, Igor Shesterkin, and Vitali Kravtsov.
The veteran centre spent most of his career with the Washington Capitals before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2023-24 season. He had modest numbers in the regular season for Carolina, but he did finish tied for second among Hurricanes forwards with four goals in 10 playoff games.